States have increasingly asserted their authority to regulate hazardous materials transportation, in the face of inadequate and declining federal efforts. Areas of state interest include inspection and enforcement, emergency response and routing. Pending legislation to reauthorize the Hazardous Materials Transportation Act (HMTA) would strengthen the federal role in certain appropriate areas and increase funding to states for emergency response. These developments are generally welcomed as long as areas of traditional state authority are not subject to preemption.